thomaed – Magnetized Plasma Research Laboratory (MPRL)

Call for MPRL Proposals and DPP-2022

October, 2022 – The 2022 Call for Proposals for the Dept. of Energy collaborative user facilities (MPRL/MDPX, BaPSF, WiPPL/BRB, WiPPL/MSF, DIII-D frontiers) is now live HERE. Proposals are due 15 November, 2022 for runtime in 2023-2024.

The MRPL team will be at the APS-Division of Plasma Physics meeting in Spokane, WA from October 16 – 21, 2022. We have posters and presentations throughout the week.

Come and find us:
Edward Thomas, Jr. (etjr@auburn.edu)
Saikat Chakraborty Thakur (szc0199@auburn.edu)
Eva Kostadinova (egk0033@auburn.edu)

Congratulations to our latest PhDs

A little late, but still should be celebrated! Photos from the Summer, 2022 graduation of our two most recent PhDs – Lori McCabe and Michael McKinlay

MPRL movies and images

Newly created link to movies and images from the MPRL

And, we now have an Instagram page!

NEW – updated MDPX technical note – 10/31/21

Updated MDPX technical note has been created. Access it via this LINK.

Previous and ongoing projects

Link to a list of primarily collaborative projects that use the facilities of the Magnetized Plasma Research Laboratory. Includes links to relevant publications.

Projects can be viewed in a view-only Google Sheet: HERE.

Possible DOE Solicitation for FY 2022

Notification of an FOA on Frontier Plasma Science Expected in FY2022

Contingent on appropriations, DOE Office of Science Fusion Energy Sciences is expecting to issue a targeted FOA (No separate Lab Announcement will be issued. Approved and interested US DOE lab researchers will also respond to this FOA). This FOA is focused on supporting frontier plasma science experiments on one or more of the currently FES General Plasma Science (GPS) program supported collaborative research facilities or initiatives. These include Wisconsin Plasma Physics Laboratory (WiPPL/BRB/MST) at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Basic Plasma Science Facility (BaPSF/LAPD) at UCLA, DIII-D Frontier Science Initiative at General Atomics), Magnetized Plasma Research Laboratory (MPRL/MDPX) at Auburn University, low-temperature Plasma Research Facility (PRF) at Sandia National Laboratories and Princeton Collaborative Research Facility (PCRF) at Princeton Plasma Physics laboratory. All US researchers from universities and DOE labs whose proposals were selected or have been selected for runtime in any of these facilities and have a genuine need for travel funds and/or additional (seed) funding may apply to this FOA.

Call for next MPRL proposals

The MPRL is pleased to announce that we are ready to accept new collaborative user proposals for the 2021 – 2022 academic year. Please visit the External User link on these webpages for more information on how to prepare a white paper.

If you have questions, please contact Prof. Edward Thomas, Jr. or Dr. Saikat Chakorbarty Thakur

MPRL operations

The laboratory is back in operation and is welcoming new and continuing users. We have updated our application page and are ready to accept new applications for run-time during the 2021-2022 academic year.

Magnet Lab operations schedule

Please check the calendar page for the newly update operations schedule. We anticipate magnetic field operations to begin on or about July 7, 2021.

Calendar link

Covid-19 and HVAC Renovation

Due to the combination of Covid-19 restrictions and construction in the Leach Science Center, the MDPX device was shut down from Dec., 2020 to Jun., 2021.

We are pleased to announce that starting in early June, 2021 – we’ll begin the restart process. We hope to begin operations again by early July, 2021. Watch this space for new announcements!

MPRL images of of completed HVAC renovation in the Leach Science Center (May, 2021)